Thompson Okanagan

Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries

Brewery (Canadian Tourism Commission photo)

Although famed as a wine destination, the Thompson Okanagan also offers a great selection of locally produced beers, ciders and spirits.

Tree Brewing and Crannog Ales are some of the breweries offering handcrafted ales and lagers (and tours), while brewpubs serve selections of cold, local brews and food. The Okanagan Fest-of-Ale beer festival is a great place to sample them all.

Local cideries take advantage of the abundant Okanagan apple harvest. Cool off in summer with refreshing ciders from Orchard Hill Estate Cidery or Raven Ridge Cidery.

The region's distilleries also use fresh fruit to produce rich fruit liqueurs, eaux de vies (fruit brandies) – even absinthe. Sample a few at Okanagan Spirits, a craft distillery that was awarded the Master-Class Distillery title at the World Spirits Awards (2010).

Sorrento's Crannog Ales is Canada's only certified organic farmhouse microbrewery, and is noted for their unfiltered, unpasteurized brews. The brewmaster's Irish heritage is reflected in the brewery's ales (try the traditional Irish red ale) and Celtic artwork.

Make sure to try a pint of Okanagan Springs' Pale Ale, brewed locally in Vernon. One of BC's first craft breweries, they have been producing popular beers since 1985.

Other breweries and brews to tour and taste are Penticton's Cannery Brewing and Tin Whistle Brewery.

Brewpubs

After golfing, swimming or cycling, relax in a brewpub with a pint of in-house brewed beer. The Barley Station Brewpub in Salmon Arm offers great beer and has hops vines covering the brewery's front entrance.

More local watering holes that serve their own beer and good food are The Barley Mill Pub in Pencticton, Freddy's Brewpub in Kelowna and The Ridge Brew House in Osoyoos.

Cideries

Orchard Hill Estate Cidery uses blends of Okanagan apples in their ciders. Tour the orchard near Osoyoos, and munch on apples before sampling the ciders: try the Red Roof or the Okanagan Bubbly.

Kelowna's Raven Ridge Cidery specializes in iced ciders, which are pressed from frozen home-grown apples. Have some on its own, pair it with a meal in the orchard's restaurant or pour it over a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a decadent dessert.

Distilleries

Vernon's Okanagan Spirits has won numerous awards. Adventurous drinker? Try the absinthe, crafted according to traditional European recipes (which use fruit alcohol spirit and not grain). Taste hints of fennel, anise and lemon balm – botanicals that are all grown locally.

Urban Distilleries in Kelowna produces small batches of handcrafted gin, vodka, rum and whiskey using locally grown ingredients and filtered spring water. Tours of the distillery are available and there is a tasting room and retail store on site.

Okanagan Fest-of-Ale

Beer enthusiasts should attend the annual Okanagan Fest-of-Ale, one of BC's largest beer festivals. Held in April, this weekend-long event showcases the newest and tastiest brews from more than two dozen, mostly BC, craft breweries.

Practical Points

The legal drinking age in BC is 19. Two pieces of valid I.D. are required as proof of age.

Some breweries, cideries and distilleries are open by appointment only.

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Add a new experience to your Okanagan wine tour: visit our Craft Distillery tasting room on the beautiful Naramata Bench. We invite you to enjoy our award-winning spirits and liqueurs made in our traditional German copper pot-still, open since 2005. The smooth aroma of our fruit brandies made from South Okanagan cherries, pears, peaches will delight your senses.

Our newest award winner is the Aged Italian Prune which won Gold at the Destillata competition in Austria (2013). Treat yourselves to a sip of artisan liqueur made from Okanagan pears or cherries. Surprise friends with a splash of Maple Liqueur, either for dessert or a cocktail.

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is an award-winning distillery (World Class Distillery and Distillery of the Year 2013, by World Spirits) specializing in the production of local spirits made from 100% BC ingredients.

Experience an education on the art of craft distillation and step up to the tasting bar to sample spirits from an award-winning portfolio that earned Okanagan Spirits the title 'World Class Distillery.'

Distilled on-site at both Vernon and Kelowna locations, spirits include Liqueurs, Gin, Vodka, Whisky, Eaux de Vie and Canada's first genuine Absinthe. No artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives are used in the production of Okanagan Spirits.

Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery is an award-winning distillery (World Class Distillery and Distillery of the Year 2013, by World Spirits) specializing in the production of local spirits made from 100% BC ingredients.

Experience an education on the art of craft distillation and step up to the tasting bar to sample spirits from an award-winning portfolio that earned Okanagan Spirits the title 'World Class Distillery.'

Distilled on-site at both Vernon and Kelowna locations, spirits include Liqueurs, Gin, Vodka, Whisky, Eaux de Vie and Canada's first genuine Absinthe. No artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives are used in the production of Okanagan Spirits.

Pure, simple and a little bit twisted. Inspired by romance and a twist of fate, our sparkling apple cider is expertly crafted in with our very own organic apples. From orchard to glass, all of our ciders are uniquely blended with a variety of French and English cider apples. Scenically located just off the highway, come visit our tasting room and picnic area for a cold, refreshing glass of cider.

Urban Distilleries is the oldest and largest craft distillery in the Okanagan. We are a small batch micro-distillery that produces award winning, ultra-premium hand-made gins, vodkas & whisky including the signature "Spirit Bear" line.

At Urban Distilleries, each batch is hand crafted in Artesian copper stills from premium Okanagan grains, fruit and only the best glacier water from the Kootenays. ALL PRODUCTS ARE GLUTEN FREE AND ALL NATURAL

Come visit the distillery, we are open to the public daily from 11 to 6. We do tours and tastings. Our on-site retail store has all our hand-made products plus bar supplies, huge selection of bitters and botanically brewed mixes.

Other businesses with Breweries, Distilleries & Cideries

Mead or honey wine, the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man, is a delightful drink made from fermenting honey & water. By using unique BC floral sources of honey & by adding specific fruit concentrates, herbs & spices, the mead can be finished in numerous ways & paired with a wide array of snacks & meals. Already a winner of 2 medals at the 2011 Mazer Cup International, the Meadery offers tastings of up to 6 different meads, product sales & group tours as well as giftware & numerous other healthy treasures of the Hive in the Honey Health Boutique.

We offer a unique behind the scenes look at the wine industry in the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Tours operate daily showcasing the wonders of the local wineries. Join us to meet the local vintners, walk the vineyards, indulge in a marvellous food and wine pairing at lunch, enjoy exclusive tastings and so much more. Daily wine tours start throughout the Okanagan: Osoyoos (South), Vernon (North), Salmon Arm (Shuswap). Pick up can be arranged from hotels, attractions, private residences or businesses. Private charters and custom wine tours can also be arranged tailored to your group's needs.